| Alzheimer's disease is probably one of the | | | | unfortunately it is incurable at the time of |
| commonest causes of Dementia. It is a | | | | writing. |
| degenerative disease of the brain that | | | | |
| effectively starts in the cerebral cortex. It | | | | Once Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, then |
| is mostly characterised by the gradual and | | | | the person should be given as much help and |
| progressive decline in a person's mental | | | | aid as feasible, especially in the early |
| abilities. It affects both sexes generally | | | | stages. Unfortunately many people who are |
| those who are over the age of 60, yet | | | | diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are |
| Alzheimer's has been known to occur in people | | | | conscious at first that something is wrong |
| as early as age 40. | | | | with them (although they may go into denial), |
| | | | and being aware you are "losing your mind" |
| The earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease | | | | can be a truly shocking and frightening |
| are simple forgetfulness. This is mostly | | | | experience. |
| disregarded especially if the person is | | | | |
| elderly, as it is commonly put down to their | | | | Their family ought, also to be given help to |
| age, but it steadily progresses to more | | | | come to terms with the diagnosis as it can |
| severe symptoms such as trouble in performing | | | | have a distressing effect on them especially |
| easy or regular tasks such as fastening | | | | if the person with Alzheimer's is younger and |
| buttons or tying shoelaces. | | | | brings in part of the household income. |
| | | | |
| There is a progressive deterioration in both | | | | There are several support groups they can |
| the person's mental and bodily state and | | | | join who will help them to adjust and come to |
| abilities additionally, also their recall. | | | | terms with the life altering disease that has |
| There is also a difference in the actions and | | | | befallen their loved one. |
| personality of the person with Alzheimer's, | | | | |
| with their ordinary actions becoming a thing | | | | In the very later stages of Alzheimer's |
| of the past. For example someone who has | | | | disease, the person gets so bad that many |
| always been gentle and kind may begin to use | | | | families have no choice but to place their |
| filthy words and make inappropriate sexual | | | | relation in a nursing home so they can be |
| advances or become violent and begin striking | | | | cared for professionally. This can also be |
| and lashing out at people. | | | | distressing for both them and the person who |
| | | | is ill. |
| In the later stages of Alzheimer's, the | | | | |
| person eventually becomes incapable of | | | | The reason for Alzheimer's disease is not |
| performing any task at all. They also become | | | | known, yet scientists and doctors have many |
| doubly incontinent, lose their power of | | | | thoughts about its origins. There have been |
| speech, lose the ability to walk properly, | | | | many theories such as the deposition of |
| suffer paralysis and lose their total memory. | | | | aluminium in the brain, to fluoride in the |
| | | | water but nothing has been positively |
| If treatment is given early enough, it can | | | | identified as the course of this horrible |
| slightly slow down the disease, but | | | | disease. |